Uploaded July 2019 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
I discuss the most common, worst cluster of problems in tanning hides and skins with bark, or vegetable tanning.
Support on patreon.com/skillcult has been critical in keeping me experimenting and making content. If you want to help me help others, this is probably the best way to do it. Thank you Patrons for supporting the mission!
Buy less, but buy it through my links! Shopping through my affiliate links generates revenue for me, at no extra cost to you, click links here, or go to my Amazon Store page: skillcult.com/amazon-store But seriously, buy less, do more.
Standard gear I recommend. I either use or have used all of it.
Council Tool Boys Axe: amzn.to/3z0muqI
Bahco Farmer's File: amzn.to/3Hbdhij
King two sided sharpening stone: amzn.to/32EX1XC
Silky f180 saw: amzn.to/3yZzM71
ARS 10 foot long reach pruner: amzn.to/3esETmM
Victorinox grafting/floral knife: amzn.to/3Jki1E9
Wiebe 12” fleshing tool: amzn.to/3sB0qSl
Atlas Elbow Gloves: amzn.to/3FwB5g6
BOOKS:
The Axe Book, by Dudley Cook: amzn.to/32kx7sN
Bushcraft, by Mors Kochanski: amzn.to/32q2rpT
Subscribe to my channel for more insightful Self Reliance related content: youtube.com/skillcult/subscribe Click the bell icon to be notified of new content. Subscribing doesn’t mean that much on it’s own.
Blog and website: skillcult.com/blog
Instagram and Facebook @SkillCult
Unless steered in the right direction, almost all beginning bark tanners use liquors or tanning materials like old bark, which are too weak. Similarly and with the same result, the liqours are not strengthened often enough to preserve the skin while tanning. Vegetable tanning a skin requires a lot of tannic acid. As the tannic acid is used up, the liquor becomes weak and begins to get smelly and gross. If the solution is not strong enough, the hide will begin to break down and often smell bad. The hide will be damaged and usually make poor leather in these scenarios. Learn to judge the strength of the liquors and materials that you use regularly and make sure that new, strong liquor is being added to keep the solution strength up. Try also to get high quality, high tannin materials to use in your hide tanning. Watch my video on different tanning materials and ideas on how to acquire them. youtu.be/gbD2h3g0_Nc
I discuss the most common, worst cluster of problems in tanning hides and skins with bark, or vegetable tanning.
Support on patreon.com/skillcult has been critical in keeping me experimenting and making content. If you want to help me help others, this is probably the best way to do it. Thank you Patrons for supporting the mission!
Buy less, but buy it through my links! Shopping through my affiliate links generates revenue for me, at no extra cost to you, click links here, or go to my Amazon Store page: skillcult.com/amazon-store But seriously, buy less, do more.
Standard gear I recommend. I either use or have used all of it.
Council Tool Boys Axe: amzn.to/3z0muqI
Bahco Farmer's File: amzn.to/3Hbdhij
King two sided sharpening stone: amzn.to/32EX1XC
Silky f180 saw: amzn.to/3yZzM71
ARS 10 foot long reach pruner: amzn.to/3esETmM
Victorinox grafting/floral knife: amzn.to/3Jki1E9
Wiebe 12” fleshing tool: amzn.to/3sB0qSl
Atlas Elbow Gloves: amzn.to/3FwB5g6
BOOKS:
The Axe Book, by Dudley Cook: amzn.to/32kx7sN
Bushcraft, by Mors Kochanski: amzn.to/32q2rpT
Subscribe to my channel for more insightful Self Reliance related content: youtube.com/skillcult/subscribe Click the bell icon to be notified of new content. Subscribing doesn’t mean that much on it’s own.
Blog and website: skillcult.com/blog
Instagram and Facebook @SkillCult
Unless steered in the right direction, almost all beginning bark tanners use liquors or tanning materials like old bark, which are too weak. Similarly and with the same result, the liqours are not strengthened often enough to preserve the skin while tanning. Vegetable tanning a skin requires a lot of tannic acid. As the tannic acid is used up, the liquor becomes weak and begins to get smelly and gross. If the solution is not strong enough, the hide will begin to break down and often smell bad. The hide will be damaged and usually make poor leather in these scenarios. Learn to judge the strength of the liquors and materials that you use regularly and make sure that new, strong liquor is being added to keep the solution strength up. Try also to get high quality, high tannin materials to use in your hide tanning. Watch my video on different tanning materials and ideas on how to acquire them. youtu.be/gbD2h3g0_Nc
